It is official. We reveived our visas tonight! Praise God! Thank you to everyone that has been praying. We would have received them earlier today but it seems that they were mistakenly placed in the wrong mailbox. So, at 8pm came a knock on our door. Thank you Elena for delivering the good news.
And they are SWEET! I expected a simple stamp in our passport but it is more like the info page of a passport (except for the UK). It has our picture, name, birthdate, passport number and all. It even has one of those fancy hologram seals. I considered posting a pic of it here but then I thought that wouldn't be too wise. Thanks FPO for wisdom : )
And thank you to everyone that is praying for us. Please pray that God will help us to get out of the way, overcome our pride and fears, and boldly share His love with the world. Not so that we can convice people of the "right" way, but because in Christ is hope and freedom. Please also be praying WITH us...that the teenagers in London will hunger and thirst for Jesus, that God will rise up a handful of teenagers in our first three months who desire to know God, that God will call his people in the US to partner with us in sharing the love of Christ with teenagers, and that God's people will obey. I pray that you experience the hope and freedom of Christ in your life today.
9.21.2007
9.18.2007
Exciting News!
Late last week we were informed that we now have a home in London! We thought you might want to share in our joy. We have not had a place to call home for several months now (not including our amazing parents who have graciously allowed us to take over their homes for some time). So we are especially excited to learn of this latest portion of our journey. Our flat is on the ground floor, left side. Enjoy!
9.11.2007
What's it all about?
I still haven't showed Angie how to access our blog to post yet, so once again you get my own ramblings. We have been so busy over this past month that I've hardly stopped to stay in touch with any of you, so tonight I took some time to make a few phone calls. One of those calls was to my brother, Philip. I'm always so proud of him and challenged by his passion to see the people around him experience faith in Jesus. Tonight was no exception.
At the shop in which he has worked for no more than a month, he has already started talking with a coworker about his relationship with Christ. More importantly, he is praying for God to open his heart. But what has struck me the most tonight is the paralyzing affect that a lost world can have on us.
There are SO many people around us every day that don't place their hope in Jesus. How can we ever tell anyone? And what if I engage someone with the truth of Christ but they only become defensive and move further away from Him? If we see the world through these lenses we will never move our feet. But Jesus saw the world through much different lenses.
Jesus tells a story of a farmer casting seed in his field (Luke 8:4-15). The seed is scattered indiscriminately along the ground, even though much of the land is not good soil. However, the good soil is then identified when the crop begins to grow. The dynamic of this story is played out in Jesus life. And when we begin to realize the implications of the story, we can place once foot in front of the next and begin to sow seed wherever we are.
Please pray that Angie and I learn to share the truth of Jesus EVERYWHERE, without discrimination or trepidation. Pray that God will give us wisdom that moves our feet and that he will keep our eyes open to the soil that is around.
At the shop in which he has worked for no more than a month, he has already started talking with a coworker about his relationship with Christ. More importantly, he is praying for God to open his heart. But what has struck me the most tonight is the paralyzing affect that a lost world can have on us.
There are SO many people around us every day that don't place their hope in Jesus. How can we ever tell anyone? And what if I engage someone with the truth of Christ but they only become defensive and move further away from Him? If we see the world through these lenses we will never move our feet. But Jesus saw the world through much different lenses.
Jesus tells a story of a farmer casting seed in his field (Luke 8:4-15). The seed is scattered indiscriminately along the ground, even though much of the land is not good soil. However, the good soil is then identified when the crop begins to grow. The dynamic of this story is played out in Jesus life. And when we begin to realize the implications of the story, we can place once foot in front of the next and begin to sow seed wherever we are.
Please pray that Angie and I learn to share the truth of Jesus EVERYWHERE, without discrimination or trepidation. Pray that God will give us wisdom that moves our feet and that he will keep our eyes open to the soil that is around.
9.04.2007
Day 29 - Richmond, VA
Today is the halfway mark of our orientation. In the newness of our experience here, the first three weeks FLEW by. We received so much great information and got to know so many amazing people. But the last week has felt like perpetual Wednesday. You know, when so much has already happened during the week and the weekend has so much to offer. But still, those days lie ahead before the weekend will begin. We have hit our "Wednesday".
Since I have been HORRIBLE about keeping you all informed (all two of you that actually check this blog - thanks mom and Lindsey), I'll give you a quick look into a day in our life at orientation.
6:30am - Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! (That's what my alarm says but the clock seems to suddenly jump ahead when I get out of bed. It keeps showing 7:15am. I'm not really sure what's going on there:)
7:30am - Breakfast (Sausage and biscuits - fresh once a week and stale leftovers the rest - YUMMY!)
8:00am - Small group Bible study or reflection on the previous day's sessions.
9am - 12pm - Training (lecture format - but some of these guys will crack you up)
12pm - 1pm - Lunch
1pm - 3pm - More Training (but this week we have gone until 5p for training. My eyes have started to pop out of my head).
3:00pm - Deflate my eyes so that the sun does not burn in my retina. Spent some time on the computer e-mailing, researching assignments, and reading articles (I am sorely behind on world events because we have been so busy - not to mention catching up with each of you...sorry...)
5:oopm - Dinner
6p - 8p - Catch my breath. Read about the UK. Prepare for the next day. (Angie has been walking with her friends here most every day at 7pm.)
8:00pm - Run (A friend of mine and I plan to run I haven't been as consistent with this as I set out to be, but we're doing pretty good. If I don't run a couple of miles I am usually able to play basketball or soccer to get in some exercise. )
10:00pm - Shower and off to sleep.
We definitely stay busy. But above all, we are challenged daily to know God more and share His love with all language, people, tribe, and nation.
Since I have been HORRIBLE about keeping you all informed (all two of you that actually check this blog - thanks mom and Lindsey), I'll give you a quick look into a day in our life at orientation.
6:30am - Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! (That's what my alarm says but the clock seems to suddenly jump ahead when I get out of bed. It keeps showing 7:15am. I'm not really sure what's going on there:)
7:30am - Breakfast (Sausage and biscuits - fresh once a week and stale leftovers the rest - YUMMY!)
8:00am - Small group Bible study or reflection on the previous day's sessions.
9am - 12pm - Training (lecture format - but some of these guys will crack you up)
12pm - 1pm - Lunch
1pm - 3pm - More Training (but this week we have gone until 5p for training. My eyes have started to pop out of my head).
3:00pm - Deflate my eyes so that the sun does not burn in my retina. Spent some time on the computer e-mailing, researching assignments, and reading articles (I am sorely behind on world events because we have been so busy - not to mention catching up with each of you...sorry...)
5:oopm - Dinner
6p - 8p - Catch my breath. Read about the UK. Prepare for the next day. (Angie has been walking with her friends here most every day at 7pm.)
8:00pm - Run (A friend of mine and I plan to run I haven't been as consistent with this as I set out to be, but we're doing pretty good. If I don't run a couple of miles I am usually able to play basketball or soccer to get in some exercise. )
10:00pm - Shower and off to sleep.
We definitely stay busy. But above all, we are challenged daily to know God more and share His love with all language, people, tribe, and nation.
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